Vascular endothelial growth factor 2

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are human VEGF2 polypeptides, biologically active, diagnostically or therapeutically useful fragments, analogs, or derivatives thereof, and DNA(RNA) encoding such VEGF2 polypeptides. Also provided are procedures for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques and antibodies and antagonists against such polypeptides. Such polypeptides may be used therapeutically for stimulating wound healing and for vascular tissue repair. Also provided are methods of using the antibodies and antagonists to inhibit tumor angiogenesis and thus tumor growth, inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/219,442, filed Dec. 23, 1998, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/999,811, filed Dec. 24, 1997, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,540, which is a continuation-in part of both U.S. application Ser. No. 08/207,550 filed Mar. 8, 1994, now abandoned, and U.S. application Ser. No. 08/465,968, filed Jun. 6, 1995, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,182. The content of all the aforesaid applications are relied upon and incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, as well as the production of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides of the present invention have been identified as members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family. More particularly, the polypeptides of the present invention are human vascular endothelial growth factor 2 (VEGF2). The invention also relates to inhibiting the action of such polypeptides.

2. Related Art

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is essential for embryonic development, subsequent growth, and tissue repair. Angiogenesis is also an essential part of certain pathological conditions, such as neoplasia (i.e., tumors and gliomas). Abnormal angiogenesis is associated with other diseases such as inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetic retinopathy (Folkman, J. and Klagsbrun, M., Science 235: 442-447(1987)).

Both acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor molecules are mitogens for endothelial cells and other cell types. Angiotropin and angiogenin can induce angiogenesis, although their functions are unclear (Folkman, J., Cancer Medicine, Lea and Febiger Press, pp. 153-170 (1993)). A highly selective mitogen for vascular endothelial cells is vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF (Ferrara, N. et al., Endocr. Rev. 13: 19-32 (1992)), which is also known as vascular permeability factor (VPF).

Vascular endothelial growth factor is a secreted angiogenic mitogen whose target cell specificity appears to be restricted to vascular endothelial cells. The murine VEGF gene has been characterized and its expression pattern in embryogenesis has been analyzed. A persistent expression of VEGF was observed in epithelial cells adjacent to fenestrated endothelium, e.g., in choroid plexus and kidney glomeruli. The data was consistent with a role of VEGF as a multifunctional regulator of endothelial cell growth and differentiation (Breier, G. et al., Development 114: 521-532 (1992)).

VEGF shares sequence homology with human platelet-derived growth factors, PDGFα and PDGFβ (Leung, D. W., et al., Science 246: 1306-1309, (1989)). The extent of homology is about 21% and 23%, respectively. Eight cysteine residues contributing to disulfide-bond formation are strictly conserved in these proteins. Although they are similar, there are specific differences between VEGF and PDGF. While PDGF is a major growth factor for connective tissue, VEGF is highly specific for endothelial cells. Alternatively spliced mRNAs have been identified for both VEGF, PLGF, and PDGF and these different splicing products differ in biological activity and in receptor-binding specificity. VEGF and PDGF function as homo-dimers or hetero-dimers and bind to receptors which elicit intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity following receptor dimerization.

VEGF has four different forms of 121, 165, 189 and 206 amino acids due to alternative splicing. VEGF121 and VEGF165 are soluble and are capable of promoting angiogenesis, whereas VEGF189 and VEGF206 are bound to heparin containing proteoglycans in the cell surface. The temporal and spatial expression of VEGF has been correlated with physiological proliferation of the blood vessels (Gajdusek, C. M., and Carbon, S. J., Cell Physiol. 139: 570-579 (1989); McNeil, P. L., et al., J. Cell. Biol. 109: 811-822 (1989)). Its high affinity binding sites are localized only on endothelial cells in tissue sections (Jakeman, L. B., et al., Clin. Invest. 89: 244-253 (1989)). The factor can be isolated from pituitary cells and several tumor cell lines, and has been implicated in some human gliomas (Plate, K. H., Nature 359: 845-848 (1992)). Interestingly, expression of VEGF121 or VEGF165 confers on Chinese hamster ovary cells the ability to form tumors in nude mice (Ferrara, N. et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91: 160-170 (1993)). The inhibition of VEGF function by anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies was shown to inhibit tumor growth in immune-deficient mice (Kim, K. J., Nature 362: 841-844 (1993)). Further, a dominant-negative mutant of the VEGF receptor has been shown to inhibit growth of glioblastomas in mice.

Vascular permeability factor (VPF) has also been found to be responsible for persistent microvascular hyperpermeability to plasma proteins even after the cessation of injury, which is a characteristic feature of normal wound healing. This suggests that VPF is an important factor in wound healing. Brown, L. F. et al., J. Exp. Med. 176: 1375-1379 (1992).

The expression of VEGF is high in vascularized tissues, (e.g., lung, heart, placenta and solid tumors) and correlates with angiogenesis both temporally and spatially. VEGF has also been shown to induce angiogenesis in vivo. Since angiogenesis is essential for the repair of normal tissues, especially vascular tissues, VEGF has been proposed for use in promoting vascular tissue repair (e.g., in atherosclerosis).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,492, issued Dec. 17, 1991 to Chen et al., discloses a method for synergistically enhancing endothelial cell growth in an appropriate environment which comprises adding to the environment, VEGF, effectors and serum-derived factor. Also, vascular endothelial cell growth factor C sub-unit DNA has been prepared by polymerase chain reaction techniques. The DNA encodes a protein that may exist as either a heterodimer or homodimer. The protein is a mammalian vascular endothelial cell mitogen and, as such, is useful for the promotion of vascular development and repair, as disclosed in European Patent Application No. 92302750.2, published Sep. 30, 1992.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The polypeptides of the present invention have been putatively identified as a novel vascular endothelial growth factor based on amino acid sequence homology to human VEGF.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there are provided novel mature polypeptides, as well as biologically active and diagnostically or therapeutically useful fragments, analogs, and derivatives thereof. The polypeptides of the present invention are of human origin.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there are provided isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising polynucleotides encoding full length or truncated VEGF2 polypeptides having the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS:2 or 4, respectively, or the amino acid sequences encoded by the cDNA clones deposited in bacterial hosts as ATCC™ Deposit Number 97149 on May 12, 1995 or ATCC™ Deposit Number 75698 on Mar. 4, 1994.

The present invention also relates to biologically active and diagnostically or therapeutically useful fragments, analogs, and derivatives of VEGF2.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there are provided processes for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques comprising culturing recombinant prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic host cells, containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention, under conditions promoting expression of said proteins and subsequent recovery of said proteins.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there are provided processes for utilizing such polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides for therapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulate angiogenesis, wound-healing, growth of damaged bone and tissue, and to promote vascular tissue repair.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there are provided antibodies against such polypeptides and processes for producing such polypeptides.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there are provided antagonists to such polypeptides, which may be used to inhibit the action of such polypeptides, for example, to prevent tumor angiogenesis and thus inhibit the growth of tumors, to treat diabetic retinopathy, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there are provided nucleic acid probes comprising nucleic acid molecules of sufficient length to specifically hybridize to nucleic acid sequences of the present invention.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there are provided methods of diagnosing diseases or a susceptibility to diseases related to mutations in nucleic acid sequences of the present invention and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid sequences.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for utilizing such polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, for in vitro purposes related to scientific research, synthesis of DNA and manufacture of DNA vectors.

These and other aspects of the present invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.

FIGS. 1A-1E show the full length nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:1) and the deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO:2) sequence of VEGF2. The polypeptide comprises approximately 419 amino acid residues of which approximately 23 represent the leader sequence. The standard one letter abbreviations for amino acids are used. Sequencing was performed using the Model 373 Automated DNA Sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Inc.). Sequencing accuracy is predicted to be greater than 97%.

FIGS. 2A-2D show the nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:3) and the deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO:4) sequence of a truncated, biologically active form of VEGF2. The polypeptide comprises approximately 350 amino acid residues of which approximately the first 24 amino acids represent the leader sequence.

FIGS. 3A-3B are an illustration of the amino acid sequence homology between PDGFα (SEQ ID NO:5), PDGFβ (SEQ ID NO:6), VEGF (SEQ ID NO:7), and VEGF2 (SEQ ID NO:4). The boxed areas indicate the conserved sequences and the location of the eight conserved cysteine residues.

FIG. 4 shows, in table-form, the percent homology between PDGFα, PDGFβ, VEGF, and VEGF2.

FIG. 5 shows the presence of VEGF2 mRNA in human breast tumor cell lines.

FIG. 6 depicts the results of a Northern blot analysis of VEGF2 in human adult tissues.

FIG. 7 shows a photograph of an SDS-PAGE gel after in vitro transcription, translation and electrophoresis of the polypeptide of the present invention. Lane 1: ¹⁴C and rainbow M. W. marker; Lane 2: FGF control; Lane 3: VEGF2 produced by M13-reverse and forward primers; Lane 4: VEGF2 produced by M13 reverse and VEGF-F4 primers; Lane 5: VEGF2 produced by M13 reverse and VEGF-F5 primers.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict photographs of SDS-PAGE gels. VEGF2 polypeptide was expressed in a baculovirus system consisting of Sf9 cells. Protein from the medium and cytoplasm of cells were analyzed by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing (FIG. 8A) and reducing (FIG. 8B) conditions.

FIG. 9 depicts a photograph of an SDS-PAGE gel. The medium from Sf9 cells infected with a nucleic acid sequence of the present invention was precipitated. The resuspended precipitate was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and stained with coomassie brilliant blue.

FIG. 10 depicts a photograph of an SDS-PAGE gel. VEGF2 was purified from the medium supernatant and analyzed by SDS-PAGE in the presence or absence of the reducing agent β-mercaptoethanol and stained by coomassie brilliant blue.

FIG. 11 depicts reverse phase HPLC analysis of purified VEGF2 using a RP-300 column (0.21×3 cm, Applied Biosystems, Inc.). The column was equilibrated with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (Solvent A) and the proteins eluted with a 7.5 min gradient from 0 to 60% Solvent B, composed of acetonitrile containing 0.07% TFA. The protein elution was monitored by absorbance at 215 nm (“red” line) and 280 nm (“blue” line). The percentage of Solvent B is shown by the “green” line.

FIG. 12 is a bar graph illustrating the effect of partially-purified VEGF2 protein on the growth of vascular endothelial cells in comparison to basic fibroblast growth factor.

FIG. 13 is a bar graph illustrating the effect of purified VEGF2 protein on the growth of vascular endothelial cells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there are provided isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide encoding a VEGF2 polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:2), which was determined by sequencing a cloned cDNA. The nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 was obtained by sequencing a cDNA clone, which was deposited on May 12, 1995 at the American Type Tissue Collection (ATCC™), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas Va. 20110-2209 and given ATCC™ Deposit No. 97149.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there are provided isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide encoding a truncated VEGF2 polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:4), which was determined by sequencing a cloned cDNA. The nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3 was obtained by sequencing a cDNA clone, which was deposited on Mar. 4, 1994 at the American Type Tissue Collection (ATCC™), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas Va. 20110-2209 and given ATCC™ Deposit Number 75698. The deposited strains are maintained under the terms of the Budapest Treaty and will be made available to a patent office signatory to the Budapest Treaty.

Unless otherwise indicated, all nucleotide sequences determined by sequencing a DNA molecule herein were determined using an automated DNA sequencer (such as the Model 373 from Applied Biosystems, Inc.), and all amino acid sequences of polypeptides encoded by DNA molecules determined herein were predicted by translation of a DNA sequence determined as above. Therefore, as is known in the art for any DNA sequence determined by this automated approach, any nucleotide sequence determined herein may contain some errors. Nucleotide sequences determined by automation are typically at least about 90% identical, more typically at least about 95% to at least about 99.9% identical to the actual nucleotide sequence of the sequenced DNA molecule. The actual sequence can be more precisely determined by other approaches including manual DNA sequencing methods well known in the art. As is also known in the art, a single insertion or deletion in a determined nucleotide sequence compared to the actual sequence will cause a frame shift in translation of the nucleotide sequence such that the predicted amino acid sequence encoded by a determined nucleotide sequence will be completely different from the amino acid sequence actually encoded by the sequenced DNA molecule, beginning at the point of such an insertion or deletion.

A polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention may be obtained from early stage human embryo (week 8 to 9) osteoclastomas, adult heart or several breast cancer cell lines. The polynucleotide of this invention was discovered in a cDNA library derived from early stage human embryo week 9. It is structurally related to the VEGF/PDGF family. It contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of about 419 amino acid residues of which approximately the first 23 amino acid residues are the putative leader sequence such that the mature protein comprises 396 amino acids, and which protein exhibits the highest amino acid sequence homology to human vascular endothelial growth factor (30% identity), followed by PDGFα (24%) and PDGFβ (22%). (See FIG. 4). It is particularly important that all eight cysteines are conserved within all four members of the family (see boxed areas of FIG. 3). In addition, the signature for the PDGF NVEGF family, PXCVXXXRCXGCCN, (SEQ ID NO:8) is conserved in VEGF2 (see FIG. 3). The homology between VEGF2, VEGF and the two PDGFs is at the protein sequence level. No nucleotide sequence homology can be detected, and therefore, it would be difficult to isolate the VEGF2 through simple approaches such as low stringency hybridization.

The VEGF2 polypeptide of the present invention is meant to include the full length polypeptide and polynucleotide sequence which encodes for any leader sequences and for active fragments of the full length polypeptide. Active fragments are meant to include any portions of the full length amino acid sequence which have less than the full 419 amino acids of the full length amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2, but still contain the eight cysteine residues shown conserved in FIG. 3 and that still have VEGF2 activity.

There are at least two alternatively spliced VEGF2 mRNA sequences present in normal tissues. The two bands in FIG. 7, lane 5 indicate the presence of the alternatively spliced mRNA encoding the VEGF2 polypeptide of the present invention.

The polynucleotide of the present invention may be in the form of RNA or in the form of DNA, which DNA includes cDNA, genomic DNA, and synthetic DNA. The DNA may be double-stranded or single-stranded, and if single stranded may be the coding strand or non-coding (anti-sense) strand. The coding sequence which encodes the mature polypeptide may be identical to the coding sequence shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, or that of the deposited clones, or may be a different coding sequence which, as a result of the redundancy or degeneracy of the genetic code, encodes the same, mature polypeptide as the DNA of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, or the deposited cDNAs.

The polynucleotide which encodes for the mature polypeptide of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 or for the mature polypeptides encoded by the deposited cDNAs may include: only the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide; the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide and additional coding sequences such as a leader or secretory sequence or a proprotein sequence; the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide (and optionally additional coding sequences) and non-coding sequences, such as introns or non-coding sequence 5′ and/or 3′ of the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide.

Thus, the term “polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide” encompasses a polynucleotide which includes only coding sequences for the polypeptide as well as a polynucleotide which includes additional coding and/or non-coding sequences.

The present invention further relates to variants of the hereinabove described polynucleotides which encode for fragments, analogs, and derivatives of the polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of FIG. 1 or 2, or the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of the deposited clones. The variant of the polynucleotide may be a naturally occurring allelic variant of the polynucleotide or a non-naturally occurring variant of the polynucleotide.

Thus, the present invention includes polynucleotides encoding the same mature polypeptide as shown in FIG. 1 or 2 or the same mature polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of the deposited clones as well as variants of such polynucleotides which variants encode for a fragment, derivative, or analog of the polypeptides of FIG. 1 or 2, or the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of the deposited clones. Such nucleotide variants include deletion variants, substitution variants, and addition or insertion variants.

As hereinabove indicated, the polynucleotide may have a coding sequence which is a naturally occurring allelic variant of the coding sequence shown in FIG. 1 or 2, or of the coding sequence of the deposited clones. As known in the art, an allelic variant is an alternate form of a polynucleotide sequence which have a substitution, deletion or addition of one or more nucleotides, which does not substantially alter the function of the encoded polypeptide.

The present invention also includes polynucleotides, wherein the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide may be fused in the same reading frame to a polynucleotide which aids in expression and secretion of a polypeptide from a host cell, for example, a leader sequence which functions as a secretory sequence for controlling transport of a polypeptide from the cell. The polypeptide having a leader sequence is a preprotein and may have the leader sequence cleaved by the host cell to form the mature form of the polypeptide. The polynucleotides may also encode for a proprotein which is the mature protein plus additional 5′ amino acid residues. A mature protein having a prosequence is a proprotein and is an inactive form of the protein. Once the prosequence is cleaved an active mature protein remains.

Thus, for example, the polynucleotide of the present invention may encode for a mature protein, or for a protein having a prosequence or for a protein having both a prosequence and presequence (leader sequence).

The polynucleotides of the present invention may also have the coding sequence fused in frame to a marker sequence which allows for purification of the polypeptide of the present invention. The marker sequence may be a hexahistidine tag supplied by a pQE-9 vector to provide for purification of the mature polypeptide fused to the marker in the case of a bacterial host, or, for example, the marker sequence may be a hemagglutinin (HA) tag when a mammalian host, e.g. COS-7 cells, is used. The HA tag corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson, I., et al., Cell 37:767 (1984)).

Further embodiments of the invention include isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical, and more preferably at least 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:2; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:2, but lacking the N-terminal methionine; (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions from about 1 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97149; (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97149; or (f) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).

Further embodiments of the invention include isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical, and more preferably at least 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:4; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:4, but lacking the N-terminal methionine; (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions from about 1 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 75698; (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 75698; or (f) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).

By a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a reference nucleotide sequence encoding a VEGF2 polypeptide is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polynucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence encoding the VEGF2 polypeptide. In other words, to obtain a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These mutations of the reference sequence may occur at the 5′ or 3′ terminal positions of the reference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

As a practical matter, whether any particular nucleic acid molecule is at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for instance, the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3, or to the nucleotides sequence of the deposited cDNA clone(s) can be determined conventionally using known computer programs such as the Bestfit program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis. 53711). Bestfit uses the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, Advances in Applied Mathematics 2: 482-489 (1981), to find the best segment of homology between two sequences. When using Bestfit or any other sequence alignment program to determine whether a particular sequence is, for instance, 95% identical to a reference sequence according to the present invention, the parameters are set, of course, such that the percentage of identity is calculated over the full length of the reference nucleotide sequence and that gaps in homology of up to 5% of the total number of nucleotides in the reference sequence are allowed.

The term “gene” means the segment of DNA involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it includes regions preceding and following the coding region (leader and trailer) as well as intervening sequences (introns) between individual coding segments (exons).

The present invention is further directed to fragments of the isolated nucleic acid molecules described herein. By a fragment of an isolated nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA(s) or the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3 is intended fragments at least about 15 nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably, at least about 40 nt in length which are useful as diagnostic probes and primers as discussed herein. Of course, larger fragments 50-1500 nt in length are also useful according to the present invention as are fragments corresponding to most, if not all, of the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA(s) or as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3. By a fragment at least 20 nt in length, for example, is intended fragments which include 20 or more contiguous bases from the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA(s) or the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 3.

Fragments of the full length gene of the present invention may be used as a hybridization probe for a cDNA library to isolate the full length cDNA and to isolate other cDNAs which have a high sequence similarity to the gene or similar biological activity. Probes of this type preferably have at least 30 bases and may contain, for example, 50 or more bases. The probe may also be used to identify a cDNA clone corresponding to a full length transcript and a genomic clone or clones that contain the complete gene including regulatory and promotor regions, exons, and introns. An example of a screen comprises isolating the coding region of the gene by using the known DNA sequence to synthesize an oligonucleotide probe. Labeled oligonucleotides having a sequence complementary to that of the gene of the present invention are used to screen a library of human cDNA, genomic DNA or mRNA to determine which members of the library the probe hybridizes to.

The present invention further relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising polynucleotides which hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a portion of the polynucleotides in nucleic acid molecules of the invention described above, for instance, the cDNA clone(s) contained in ATCC™ Deposit Nos. 97149 or 75698. By “stringent hybridization conditions” is intended overnight incubation at 42° C. in a solution comprising: 50% formamide, 5×SSC (750 mM NaCl, 75 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5× Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 g/ml denatured, sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 0.1×SSC at about 65° C.

By a polynucleotide which hybridizes to a “portion” of a polynucleotide is intended a polynucleotide (either DNA or RNA) hybridizing to at least about 15 nucleotides (nt), and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably about 30-70 nt of the reference polynucleotide. These are useful as diagnostic probes and primers as discussed above and in more detail below.

By a portion of a polynucleotide of “at least 20 nt in length,” for example, is intended 20 or more contiguous nucleotides from the nucleotide sequence of the reference polynucleotide (e.g., the deposited cDNA or the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1). Of course, a polynucleotide which hybridizes only to a poly A sequence (such as the 3′ terminal poly(A) tract of the VEGF2 cDNA shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 3), or to a complementary stretch of T (or U) resides, would not be included in a polynucleotide of the invention used to hybridize to a portion of a nucleic acid of the invention, since such a polynucleotide would hybridize to any nucleic acid molecule containing a poly (A) stretch or the complement thereof (e.g., practically any double-stranded cDNA clone).

The present application is directed to nucleic acid molecules at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 3 or to the nucleic acid sequence of the deposited cDNA(s), irrespective of whether they encode a polypeptide having VEGF2 activity. This is because even where a particular nucleic acid molecule does not encode a polypeptide having VEGF2 activity, one of skill in the art would still know how to use the nucleic acid molecule, for instance, as a hybridization probe or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer. Uses of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention that do not encode a polypeptide having VEGF2 activity include, inter alia, (1) isolating the VEGF2 gene or allelic variants thereof in a cDNA library; (2) in situ hybridization (e.g., “FISH”) to metaphase chromosomal spreads to provide precise chromosomal location of the VEGF2 gene, as described in Verma et al, Human Chromosomes: A Manual of Basic Techniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988); and Northern Blot analysis for detecting VEGF2 mRNA expression in specific tissues.

Preferred, however, are nucleic acid molecules having sequences at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 3 or to a nucleic acid sequence of the deposited cDNA(s) which do, in fact, encode a polypeptide having VEGF2 protein activity. By “a polypeptide having VEGF2 activity” is intended polypeptides exhibiting VEGF2 activity in a particular biological assay. For example, VEGF2 protein activity can be measured using, for example, mitogenic assays and endothelial cell migration assays. See, e.g., Olofsson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93: 2576-2581 (1996) and Joukov et al., EMBO J. 5: 290-298 (1996).

Of course, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, one of ordinary skill in the art will immediately recognize that a large number of the nucleic acid molecules having a sequence at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to a nucleic acid sequence of the deposited cDNA(s) or the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3 will encode a polypeptide “having VEGF2 protein activity.” In fact, since degenerate variants of these nucleotide sequences all encode the same polypeptide, this will be clear to the skilled artisan even without performing the above described comparison assay. It will be further recognized in the art that, for such nucleic acid molecules that are not degenerate variants, a reasonable number will also encode a polypeptide having VEGF2 protein activity. This is because the skilled artisan is fully aware of amino acid substitutions that are either less likely or not likely to significantly effect protein function (e.g., replacing one aliphatic amino acid with a second aliphatic amino acid).

For example, guidance concerning how to make phenotypically silent amino acid substitutions is provided in Bowie, J. U. et al., “Deciphering the Message in Protein Sequences: Tolerance to Amino Acid Substitutions,” Science 247: 1306-1310 (1990), wherein the authors indicate that proteins are surprisingly tolerant of amino acid substitutions.

Thus, the present invention is directed to polynucleotides having at least a 70% identity, preferably at least 90% and more preferably at least a 95% identity to a polynucleotide which encodes the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:2 or 4, as well as fragments thereof, which fragments have at least 30 bases and preferably at least 50 bases and to polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides.

The deposit(s) referred to herein will be maintained under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the purposes of Patent Procedure. These deposits are provided merely as a convenience and are not an admission that a deposit is required under 35 U.S.C. § 112. The sequence of the polynucleotides contained in the deposited materials, as well as the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides encoded thereby, are incorporated herein by reference and are controlling in the event of any conflict with the description of sequences herein. A license may be required to make, use or sell the deposited materials, and no such license is hereby granted.

The present invention further relates to polypeptides which have the deduced amino acid sequence of FIG. 1 or 2, or which has the amino acid sequence encoded by the deposited cDNAs, as well as fragments, analogs, and derivatives of such polypeptides.

The terms “fragment,” “derivative” and “analog” when referring to the polypeptide of FIG. 1 or 2 or that encoded by the deposited cDNA, means a polypeptide which retains the conserved motif of VEGF proteins as shown in FIG. 3 and essentially the same biological function or activity.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be recombinant polypeptides, natural polypeptides, or synthetic polypeptides, preferably recombinant polypeptides.

It will be recognized in the art that some amino acid sequences of the VEGF2 polypeptide can be varied without significant effect of the structure or function of the protein. If such differences in sequence are contemplated, it should be remembered that there will be critical areas on the protein which determine activity.

Thus, the invention further includes variations of the VEGF2 polypeptide which show substantial VEGF2 polypeptide activity or which include regions of VEGF2 protein such as the protein portions discussed below. Such mutants include deletions, insertions, inversions, repeats, and type substitutions. As indicated above, guidance concerning which amino acid changes are likely to be phenotypically silent can be found in Bowie, J. U., et al., “Deciphering the Message in Protein Sequences: Tolerance to Amino Acid Substitutions,” Science 247: 1306-1310 (1990).

Thus, the fragments, derivatives, or analogs of the polypeptides of FIG. 1 or 2, or that encoded by the deposited cDNAs may be: (i) one in which one or more of the amino acid residues are substituted with a conserved or nonconserved amino acid residue (preferably a conserved amino acid residue) and such substituted amino acid residue may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code; or (ii) one in which one or more of the amino acid residues includes a substituent group; or (iii) one in which the mature polypeptide is fused with another compound, such as a compound to increase the half-life of the polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol); or (iv) one in which the additional amino acids are fused to the mature polypeptide, such as a leader or secretory sequence or a sequence which is employed for purification of the mature polypeptide or a proprotein sequence; or (v) one in which comprises fewer amino acid residues shown in SEQ ID NOS:2 or 4, and retains the conserved motif and yet still retains activity characteristics of the VEGF family of polypeptides. Such fragments, derivatives, and analogs are deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

Of particular interest are substitutions of charged amino acids with another charged amino acid and with neutral or negatively charged amino acids. The latter results in proteins with reduced positive charge to improve the characteristics of the VEGF2 protein. The prevention of aggregation is highly desirable. Aggregation of proteins not only results in a loss of activity but can also be problematic when preparing pharmaceutical formulations, because they can be immunogenic. (Pinckard et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2: 331-340 (1967); Robbins et al., Diabetes 36: 838-845 (1987); Cleland et al. Crit. Rev. Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 10: 307-377 (1993)).

The replacement of amino acids can also change the selectivity of binding to cell surface receptors. Ostade et al., Nature 361: 266-268 (1993) describes certain mutations resulting in selective binding of TNF-α to only one of the two known types of TNF receptors. Thus, the VEGF2 of the present invention may include one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions, either from natural mutations or human manipulation.

As indicated, changes are preferably of a minor nature, such as conservative amino acid substitutions that do not significantly affect the folding or activity of the protein (see Table 1). TABLE 1 Conservative Amino Acid Substitutions Aromatic Phenylalanine Tryptophan Tyrosine Hydrophobic Leucine Isoleucine Valine Polar Glutamine Asparagine Basic Arginine Lysine Histidine Acidic Aspartic Acid Glutamic Acid Small Alanine Serine Threonine Methionine Glycine

Amino acids in the VEGF2 protein of the present invention that are essential for function can be identified by methods known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244: 1081-1085 (1989)). The latter procedure introduces single alanine mutations at every residue in the molecule. The resulting mutant molecules are then tested for biological activity such as receptor binding or in vitro, or in vitro proliferative activity. Sites that are critical for ligand-receptor binding can also be determined by structural analysis such as crystallization, nuclear magnetic resonance or photoaffinity labeling (Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904 (1992) and de Vos et al. Science 255: 306-312 (1992)).

The polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present invention are preferably provided in an isolated form, and preferably are purified to homogeneity.

The term “isolated” means that the material is removed from its original environment (e.g., the natural environment if it is naturally occurring). For example, a naturally-occurring polynucleotide or polypeptide present in a living animal is not isolated, but the same polynucleotide or DNA or polypeptide, separated from some or all of the coexisting materials in the natural system, is isolated. Such polynucleotide could be part of a vector and/or such polynucleotide or polypeptide could be part of a composition, and still be isolated in that such vector or composition is not part of its natural environment.

The polypeptides of the present invention include the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:2 and 4 (in particular the mature polypeptide) as well as polypeptides which have at least 70% similarity (preferably at least 70% identity) to the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:2 and 4, and more preferably at least 90% similarity (more preferably at least 95% identity) to the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:2 and 4, and still more preferably at least 95% similarity (still more preferably at least 90% identity) to the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:2 and 4 and also include portions of such polypeptides with such portion of the polypeptide generally containing at least 30 amino acids and more preferably at least 50 amino acids.

As known in the art “similarity” between two polypeptides is determined by comparing the amino acid sequence and its conserved amino acid substitutes of one polypeptide to the sequence of a second polypeptide.

Fragments or portions of the polypeptides of the present invention may be employed for producing the corresponding full-length polypeptide by peptide synthesis; therefore, the fragments may be employed as intermediates for producing the full-length polypeptides. Fragments or portions of the polynucleotides of the present invention may be used to synthesize full-length polynucleotides of the present invention.

The present invention also relates to recombinant vectors, which include the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, and to host cells containing the recombinant vectors, as well as to methods of making such vectors and host cells and for using them for production of VEGF2 polypeptides or peptides by recombinant techniques.

Host cells are genetically engineered (transduced, transformed, or transfected) with the vectors of this invention which may be, for example, a cloning vector or an expression vector. The vector may be, for example, in the form of a plasmid, a viral particle, a phage, etc. The engineered host cells can be cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the VEGF2 genes of the invention. The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the skilled artisan.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may be employed for producing polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Thus, for example, the polynucleotide sequence may be included in any one of a variety of expression vectors for expressing a polypeptide. Such vectors include chromosomal, nonchromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences, e.g., derivatives of SV40; bacterial plasmids; phage DNA; yeast plasmids; vectors derived from combinations of plasmids and phage DNA, viral DNA such as vaccinia, adenovirus, fowl pox virus, and pseudorabies. However, any other plasmid or vector may be used so long as it is replicable and viable in the host.

The appropriate DNA sequence may be inserted into the vector by a variety of procedures. In general, the DNA sequence is inserted into an appropriate restriction endonuclease site(s) by procedures known in the art. Such procedures and others are deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art.

The DNA sequence in the expression vector is operatively linked to an appropriate expression control sequence(s) (promoter) to direct mRNA synthesis. As representative examples of such promoters, there may be mentioned: LTR or SV40 promoter, the E. coli. lac or trp, the phage lambda P_(L) promoter and other promoters known to control expression of genes in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or their viruses. The expression vector also contains a ribosome binding site for translation initiation and a transcription terminator. The vector may also include appropriate sequences for amplifying expression.

In addition, the expression vectors preferably contain at least one selectable marker gene to provide a phenotypic trait for selection of transformed host cells. Such markers include dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, and tetracycline or ampicillin resistance for culturing in E. coli and other bacteria.

The vector containing the appropriate DNA sequence as herein above described, as well as an appropriate promoter or control sequence, may be employed to transform an appropriate host to permit the host to express the protein. Representative examples of appropriate hosts, include but are not limited to: bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Streptomyces; fungal cells, such as yeast; insect cells, such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9; animal cells such as CHO, COS, and Bowes melanoma; and plant cells. The selection of an appropriate host is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

More particularly, the present invention also includes recombinant constructs comprising one or more of the sequences as broadly described above. The constructs comprise a vector, such as a plasmid or viral vector, into which a sequence of the invention has been inserted, in a forward or reverse orientation. In a preferred aspect of this embodiment, the construct further comprises regulatory sequences, including, for example, a promoter, operably linked to the sequence. Large numbers of suitable vectors and promoters are known to those of skill in the art, and are commercially available. The following vectors are provided by way of example—bacterial: pQE70, pQE60 and pQE-9, available from Qiagen; pBS vectors, Phagescript vectors, Bluescript vectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, available from STRATAGENE™; and ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5 available from PHARMACIA™. Among preferred eukaryotic vectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available from STRATAGENE™; and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from PHARMACIA™. Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

Promoter regions can be selected from any desired gene using CAT (chloramphenicol transferase) vectors or other vectors with selectable markers. Two appropriate vectors are pKK232-8 and pCM7. Particular named bacterial promoters include lacI, lacZ, T3, T7, gpt, lambda P_(R), P_(L) and trp. Eukaryotic promoters include CMV immediate early, HSV thymidine kinase, early and late SV40, LTRs from retrovirus, and mouse metallothionein-I. Selection of the appropriate vector and promoter is well within the level of ordinary skill in the art.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to host cells containing the above-described construct. The host cell can be a higher eukaryotic cell, such as a mammalian cell, or a lower eukaryotic cell, such as a yeast cell, or the host cell can be a prokaryotic cell, such as a bacterial cell. Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-Dextran mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, infection, or other methods (Davis, L., et al., Basic Methods in Molecular Biology (1986)).

The constructs in host cells can be used in a conventional manner to produce the gene product encoded by the recombinant sequence. Alternatively, the polypeptides of the invention can be synthetically produced by conventional peptide synthesizers.

Mature proteins can be expressed in mammalian cells, yeast, bacteria, or other cells under the control of appropriate promoters. Cell-free translation systems can also be employed to produce such proteins using RNAs derived from the DNA constructs of the present invention. Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for use with prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts are described by Sambrook. et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Transcription of a DNA encoding the polypeptides of the present invention by higher eukaryotes is increased by inserting an enhancer sequence into the vector. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA, usually about from 10 to 300 bp, that act on a promoter to increase its transcription. Examples include the SV40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100 to 270), a cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, a polyoma enhancer on the late side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers.

Generally, recombinant expression vectors will include origins of replication and selectable markers permitting transformation of the host cell, e.g., the ampicillin resistance gene of E. coli and S. cerevisiae TRP1 gene, and a promoter derived from a highly-expressed gene to direct transcription of a downstream structural sequence. Such promoters can be derived from operons encoding glycolytic enzymes such as 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), α-factor, acid phosphatase, or heat shock proteins, among others. The heterologous structural sequence is assembled in appropriate phase with translation initiation and termination sequences, and preferably, a leader sequence capable of directing secretion of translated protein into the periplasmic space or extracellular medium. Optionally, the heterologous sequence can encode a fusion protein including an N-terminal identification peptide imparting desired characteristics, e.g., stabilization or simplified purification of expressed recombinant product.

Useful expression vectors for bacterial use are constructed by inserting a structural DNA sequence encoding a desired protein together with suitable translation initiation and termination signals in operable reading phase with a functional promoter. The vector will comprise one or more phenotypic selectable markers and an origin of replication to ensure maintenance of the vector and to, if desirable, provide amplification within the host. Suitable prokaryotic hosts for transformation include E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and Staphylococcus, although others may also be employed as a matter of choice.

As a representative but nonlimiting example, useful expression vectors for bacterial use can comprise a selectable marker and bacterial origin of replication derived from commercially available plasmids comprising genetic elements of the well known cloning vector pBR322 (ATCC™ 37017). Such commercial vectors include, for example, pKK223-3 (PHARMACIA™ Fine Chemicals, Uppsala, Sweden) and GEM1 (PROMEGA™ Biotec, Madison, Wis., USA). These pBR322 “backbone” sections are combined with an appropriate promoter and the structural sequence to be expressed.

Following transformation of a suitable host strain and growth of the host strain to an appropriate cell density, the selected promoter is depressed by appropriate means (e.g., temperature shift or chemical induction) and cells are cultured for an additional period.

Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extract retained for further purification.

Microbial cells employed in expression of proteins can be disrupted by any convenient method, well known to those skilled in the art, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents.

Various mammalian cell culture systems can also be employed to express recombinant protein. Examples of mammalian expression systems include the COS-7 lines of monkey kidney fibroblasts, described by Gluzman, Cell 23: 175 (1981), and other cell lines capable of expressing a compatible vector, for example, the C127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa and BHK cell lines. Mammalian expression vectors will comprise an origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome binding sites, polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, transcriptional termination sequences, and 5′ flanking nontranscribed sequences. DNA sequences derived from the SV40 viral genome, for example, SV40 origin, early promoter, enhancer, splice, and polyadenylation sites may be used to provide the required nontranscribed genetic elements.

The polypeptides can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by methods used heretofore, including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. It is preferred to have low concentrations (approximately 0.1-5 mM) of calcium ion present during purification (Price et al., J. Biol. Chem. 244: 917 (1969)). Protein refolding steps can be used, as necessary, in completing configuration of the mature protein. Finally, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for final purification steps.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be a naturally purified product, or a product of chemical synthetic procedures, or produced by recombinant techniques from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host (for example, by bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect and mammalian cells in culture). Depending upon the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, the polypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated with mammalian or other eukaryotic carbohydrates or may be non-glycosylated. Polypeptides of the invention may also include an initial methionine amino acid residue.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the VEGF2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, minus the initial 46 amino acids, is a potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells and stimulates their growth and proliferation. The results of a Northern blot analysis performed for the VEGF2 nucleic acid sequence encoding this polypeptide wherein 20 μg of RNA from several human tissues were probed with ³²P-VEGF2, illustrates that this protein is actively expressed in the heart and lung which is further evidence of mitogenic activity.

Accordingly, VEGF2, or biologically active portions thereof, may be employed to promote angiogenesis, for example, to stimulate the growth of transplanted tissue where coronary bypass surgery is performed. VEGF2 may also be employed to promote wound healing, particularly to re-vascularize damaged tissues or stimulate collateral blood flow during ischemia and where new capillary angiogenesis is desired. VEGF2 may be employed to treat full-thickness wounds such as dermal ulcers, including pressure sores, venous ulcers, and diabetic ulcers. In addition, VEGF2 may be employed to treat full-thickness burns and injuries where a skin graft or flap is used to repair such burns and injuries. VEGF2 may also be employed for use in plastic surgery, for example, for the repair of lacerations, burns, or other trauma.

Along these same lines, VEGF2 may also be employed to induce the growth of damaged bone, periodontium or ligament tissue. VEGF2 may also be employed for regenerating supporting tissues of the teeth, including cementum and periodontal ligament, that have been damaged by, e.g., periodental disease or trauma.

Since angiogenesis is important in keeping wounds clean and non-infected, VEGF2 may be employed in association with surgery and following the repair of cuts. It may also be employed for the treatment of abdominal wounds where there is a high risk of infection.

VEGF2 may be employed for the promotion of endothelialization in vascular graft surgery. In the case of vascular grafts using either transplanted or synthetic material, VEGF2 can be applied to the surface of the graft or at the junction to promote the growth of vascular endothelial cells. VEGF2 may also be employed to repair damage of myocardial tissue as a result of myocardial infarction. VEGF2 may also be employed to repair the cardiac vascular system after ischemia. VEGF2 may also be employed to treat damaged vascular tissue as a result of coronary artery disease and peripheral and CNS vascular disease.

VEGF2 may also be employed to coat artificial prostheses or natural organs which are to be transplanted in the body to minimize rejection of the transplanted material and to stimulate vascularization of the transplanted materials.

VEGF2 may also be employed for vascular tissue repair, for example, that occurring during arteriosclerosis and required following balloon angioplasty where vascular tissues are damaged.

VEGF2 nucleic acid sequences and VEGF2 polypeptides may also be employed for in vitro purposes related to scientific research, synthesis of DNA and manufacture of DNA vectors, and for the production of diagnostics and therapeutics to treat human disease. For example, VEGF2 may be employed for in vitro culturing of vascular endothelial cells, where it is added to the conditional medium in a concentration from 10 pg/ml to 10 ng/ml.

Fragments of the full length VEGF2 gene may be used as a hybridization probe for a cDNA library to isolate other genes which have a high sequence similarity to the gene or similar biological activity. Probes of this type generally have at least 50 base pairs, although they may have a greater number of bases. The probe may also be used to identify a cDNA clone corresponding to a full length transcript and a genomic clone or clones that contain the complete VEGF2 gene including regulatory and promotor regions, exons, and introns. An example of a screen comprises isolating the coding region of the VEGF2 gene by using the known DNA sequence to synthesize an oligonucleotide probe. Labeled oligonucleotides having a sequence complementary to that of the gene of the present invention are used to screen a library of human cDNA, genomic DNA or mRNA to determine which members of the library the probe hybridizes to.

This invention provides methods for identification of VEGF2 receptors. The gene encoding the receptor can be identified by numerous methods known to those of skill in the art, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting (Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immun., 1(2), Chapter 5, (1991)). Preferably, expression cloning is employed wherein polyadenylated RNA is prepared from a cell responsive to VEGF2, and a cDNA library created from this RNA is divided into pools and used to transfect COS cells or other cells that are not responsive to VEGF2. Transfected cells which are grown on glass slides are exposed to labeled VEGF2. VEGF2 can be labeled by a variety of means including iodination or inclusion of a recognition site for a site-specific protein kinase. Following fixation and incubation, the slides are subjected to autoradiographic analysis. Positive pools are identified and sub-pools are prepared and retransfected using an iterative sub-pooling and rescreening process, eventually yielding a single clone that encodes the putative receptor.

As an alternative approach for receptor identification, labeled VEGF2 can be photoaffinity linked with cell membrane or extract preparations that express the receptor molecule. Cross-linked material is resolved by PAGE and exposed to X-ray film. The labeled complex containing VEGF2 is then excised, resolved into peptide fragments, and subjected to protein microsequencing. The amino acid sequence obtained from microsequencing would be used to design a set of degenerate oligonucleotide probes to screen a cDNA library to identify the gene encoding the putative receptor.

This invention is also related to a method of screening compounds to identify those which are VEGF2 agonists or antagonists. An example of such a method takes advantage of the ability of VEGF2 to significantly stimulate the proliferation of human endothelial cells in the presence of the comitogen Con A. Endothelial cells are obtained and cultured in 96-well flat-bottomed culture plates (Costar, Cambridge, Mass.) in a reaction mixture supplemented with Con-A (Calbiochem, La Jolla, Calif.). Con-A, polypeptides of the present invention and the compound to be screened are added. After incubation at 37° C., cultures are pulsed with 1 μCi of ³[H]thymidine (5 Ci/mmol; 1 Ci=37 BGq; NEN) for a sufficient time to incorporate the ³[H] and harvested onto glass fiber filters (Cambridge Technology, Watertown, Mass.). Mean ³[H]-thymidine incorporation (cpm) of triplicate cultures is determined using a liquid scintillation counter (Beckman Instruments, Irvine, Calif.). Significant ³[H]thymidine incorporation, as compared to a control assay where the compound is excluded, indicates stimulation of endothelial cell proliferation.

To assay for antagonists, the assay described above is performed and the ability of the compound to inhibit ³[H]thymidine incorporation in the presence of VEGF2 indicates that the compound is an antagonist to VEGF2. Alternatively, VEGF2 antagonists may be detected by combining VEGF2 and a potential antagonist with membrane-bound VEGF2 receptors or recombinant receptors under appropriate conditions for a competitive inhibition assay. VEGF2 can be labeled, such as by radioactivity, such that the number of VEGF2 molecules bound to the receptor can determine the effectiveness of the potential antagonist.

Alternatively, the response of a known second messenger system following interaction of VEGF2 and receptor would be measured and compared in the presence or absence of the compound. Such second messenger systems include but are not limited to, cAMP guanylate cyclase, ion channels or phosphoinositide hydrolysis. In another method, a mammalian cell or membrane preparation expressing the VEGF2 receptor is incubated with labeled VEGF2 in the presence of the compound. The ability of the compound to enhance or block this interaction could then be measured.

Potential VEGF2 antagonists include an antibody, or in some cases, an oligonucleotide, which bind to the polypeptide and effectively eliminate VEGF2 function. Alternatively, a potential antagonist may be a closely related protein which binds to VEGF2 receptors, however, they are inactive forms of the polypeptide and thereby prevent the action of VEGF2. Examples of these antagonists include a negative dominant mutant of the VEGF2 polypeptide, for example, one chain of the hetero-dimeric form of VEGF2 may be dominant and may be mutated such that biological activity is not retained. An example of a negative dominant mutant includes truncated versions of a dimeric VEGF2 which is capable of interacting with another dimer to form wild type VEGF2, however, the resulting homo-dimer is inactive and fails to exhibit characteristic VEGF activity.

Another potential VEGF2 antagonist is an antisense construct prepared using antisense technology. Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression through triple-helix formation or antisense DNA or RNA, both of which methods are based on binding of a polynucleotide to DNA or RNA. For example, the 5′ coding portion of the polynucleotide sequence, which encodes for the mature polypeptides of the present invention, is used to design an antisense RNA oligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 base pairs in length. A DNA oligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the gene involved in transcription (triple helix—see Lee et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 6: 3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241: 456 (1988); and Dervan et al., Science 251: 1360 (1991)), thereby preventing transcription and the production of VEGF2. The antisense RNA oligonucleotide hybridizes to the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation of the mRNA molecule into the VEGF2 polypeptide (Antisense-Okano, J. Neurochem. 56: 560 (1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988)). The oligonucleotides described above can also be delivered to cells such that the antisense RNA or DNA may be expressed in vivo to inhibit production of VEGF2.

Potential VEGF2 antagonists also include small molecules which bind to and occupy the active site of the polypeptide thereby making the catalytic site inaccessible to substrate such that normal biological activity is prevented. Examples of small molecules include but are not limited to small peptides or peptide-like molecules.

The antagonists may be employed to limit angiogenesis necessary for solid tumor metastasis. The identification of VEGF2 can be used for the generation of certain inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor. Since angiogenesis and neovascularization are essential steps in solid tumor growth, inhibition of angiogenic activity of the vascular endothelial growth factor is very useful to prevent the further growth, retard, or even regress solid tumors. Although the level of expression of VEGF2 is extremely low in normal tissues including breast, it can be found expressed at moderate levels in at least two breast tumor cell lines that are derived from malignant tumors. It is, therefore, possible that VEGF2 is involved in tumor angiogenesis and growth.

Gliomas are also a type of neoplasia which may be treated with the antagonists of the present invention.

The antagonists may also be used to treat chronic inflammation caused by increased vascular permeability. In addition to these disorders, the antagonists may also be employed to treat retinopathy associated with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

The antagonists may be employed in a composition with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, e.g., as hereinafter described.

The VEGF2 polypeptides and agonists and antagonists may be employed in combination with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. Such compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide or agonist or antagonist, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Such a carrier includes but is not limited to saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, and combinations thereof. The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration. In addition, the pharmaceutical compositions may be employed in conjunction with other therapeutic compounds.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered in a convenient manner such as by the topical, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intratumor, subcutaneous, intranasal or intradermal routes. The pharmaceutical compositions are administered in an amount which is effective for treating and/or prophylaxis of the specific indication. In general, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered in an amount of at least about 10 μg/kg body weight and in most cases they will be administered in an amount not in excess of about 8 mg/Kg body weight per day. In most cases, the dosage is from about 10 μg/kg to about 1 mg/kg body weight daily, taking into account the routes of administration, symptoms, etc.

The VEGF2 polypeptides, and agonists or antagonists which are polypeptides may also be employed in accordance with the present invention by expression of such polypeptide in vivo, which is often referred to as “gene therapy.”

Thus, for example, cells such as bone marrow cells may be engineered with a polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) encoding for the polypeptide ex vivo, the engineered cells are then provided to a patient to be treated with the polypeptide. Such methods are well-known in the art. For example, cells may be engineered by procedures known in the art by use of a retroviral particle containing RNA encoding the polypeptide of the present invention.

Similarly, cells may be engineered in vivo for expression of a polypeptide in vivo, for example, by procedures known in the art. As known in the art, a producer cell for producing a retroviral particle containing RNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention may be administered to a patient for engineering cells in vivo and expression of the polypeptide in vivo. These and other methods for administering a polypeptide of the present invention by such methods should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings of the present invention. For example, the expression vehicle for engineering cells may be other than a retroviral particle, for example, an adenovirus, which may be used to engineer cells in vivo after combination with a suitable delivery vehicle.

Retroviruses from which the retroviral plasmid vectors hereinabove mentioned may be derived include, but are not limited to, Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus, spleen necrosis virus, retroviruses such as Rous Sarcoma Virus, Harvey Sarcoma Virus, avian leukosis virus, gibbon ape leukemia virus, human immunodeficiency virus, adenovirus, Myeloproliferative Sarcoma Virus, and mammary tumor virus. In one embodiment, the retroviral plasmid vector is derived from Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus.

The vector includes one or more promoters. Suitable promoters which may be employed include, but are not limited to, the retroviral LTR; the SV40 promoter; and the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter described in Miller et al., Biotechniques 7: 980-990 (1989), or any other promoter (e.g., cellular promoters such as eukaryotic cellular promoters including, but not limited to, the histone, pol III, and β-actin promoters). Other viral promoters which may be employed include, but are not limited to, adenovirus promoters, thymidine kinase (TK) promoters, and B19 parvovirus promoters. The selection of a suitable promoter will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings contained herein.

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide of the present invention is under the control of a suitable promoter. Suitable promoters which may be employed include, but are not limited to, adenoviral promoters, such as the adenoviral major late promoter; or hetorologous promoters, such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter; the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) promoter; inducible promoters, such as the MMT promoter, the metallothionein promoter; heat shock promoters; the albumin promoter; the ApoAI promoter; human globin promoters; viral thymidine kinase promoters, such as the Herpes Simplex thymidine kinase promoter; retroviral LTRs (including the modified retroviral LTRs hereinabove described); the β-actin promoter; and human growth hormone promoters. The promoter also may be the native promoter which controls the gene encoding the polypeptide.

The retroviral plasmid vector is employed to transduce packaging cell lines to form producer cell lines. Examples of packaging cells which may be transfected include, but are not limited to, the PE501, PA317, ψ-2, ψ-AM, PA12, T19-14X, VT-19-17-H2, ψCRE, ψCRIP, GP+E−86, GP+envAm12, and DAN cell lines as described in Miller, Human Gene Therapy 1:5-14 (1990), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The vector may transduce the packaging cells through any means known in the art. Such means include, but are not limited to, electroporation, the use of liposomes, and CaPO₄ precipitation. In one alternative, the retroviral plasmid vector may be encapsulated into a liposome, or coupled to a lipid, and then administered to a host.

The producer cell line generates infectious retroviral vector particles which include the nucleic acid sequence(s) encoding the polypeptides. Such retroviral vector particles then may be employed, to transduce eukaryotic cells, either in vitro or in vivo. The transduced eukaryotic cells will express the nucleic acid sequence(s) encoding the polypeptide. Eukaryotic cells which may be transduced include, but are not limited to, embryonic stem cells, embryonic carcinoma cells, as well as hematopoietic stem cells, hepatocytes, fibroblasts, myoblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, and bronchial epithelial cells. This invention is also related to the use of the VEGF2 gene as part of a diagnostic assay for detecting diseases or susceptibility to diseases related to the presence of mutations in VEGF2 nucleic acid sequences.

Individuals carrying mutations in the VEGF2 gene may be detected at the DNA level by a variety of techniques. Nucleic acids for diagnosis may be obtained from a patient's cells, such as from blood, urine, saliva, tissue biopsy and autopsy material. The genomic DNA may be used directly for detection or may be amplified enzymatically by using PCR (Saiki et al., Nature 324: 163-166 (1986)) prior to analysis. RNA or cDNA may also be used for the same purpose. As an example, PCR primers complementary to the nucleic acid encoding VEGF2 can be used to identify and analyze VEGF2 mutations. For example, deletions and insertions can be detected by a change in size of the amplified product in comparison to the normal genotype. Point mutations can be identified by hybridizing amplified DNA to radiolabeled VEGF2 RNA or alternatively, radiolabeled VEGF2 antisense DNA sequences. Perfectly matched sequences can be distinguished from mismatched duplexes by RNase A digestion or by differences in melting temperatures.

Genetic testing based on DNA sequence differences may be achieved by detection of alteration in electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments in gels with or without denaturing agents. Small sequence deletions and insertions can be visualized by high resolution gel electrophoresis. DNA fragments of different sequences may be distinguished on denaturing formamide gradient gels in which the mobilities of different DNA fragments are retarded in the gel at different positions according to their specific melting or partial melting temperatures (see, e.g., Myers et al., Science 230: 1242 (1985)).

Sequence changes at specific locations may also be revealed by nuclease protection assays, such as RNase and S1 protection or the chemical cleavage method (e.g., Cotton et al., PNAS, USA 85: 4397-4401 (1985)).

Thus, the detection of a specific DNA sequence may be achieved by methods such as hybridization, RNase protection, chemical cleavage, direct DNA sequencing or the use of restriction enzymes, (e.g., Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP)) and Southern blotting of genomic DNA.

In addition to more conventional gel-electrophoresis and DNA sequencing, mutations can also be detected by in situ analysis.

The present invention also relates to a diagnostic assay for detecting altered levels of VEGF2 protein in various tissues since an over-expression of the proteins compared to normal control tissue samples may detect the presence of a disease or susceptibility to a disease, for example, abnormal cellular differentiation. Assays used to detect levels of VEGF2 protein in a sample derived from a host are well-known to those of skill in the art and include radioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays, Western Blot analysis, ELISA assays and “sandwich” assay. An ELISA assay (Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2), Chapter 6, (1991)) initially comprises preparing an antibody specific to the VEGF2 antigen, preferably a monoclonal antibody. In addition a reporter antibody is prepared against the monoclonal antibody. To the reporter antibody is attached a detectable reagent such as radioactivity, fluorescence or, in this example, a horseradish peroxidase enzyme. A sample is removed from a host and incubated on a solid support, e.g. a polystyrene dish, that binds the proteins in the sample. Any free protein binding sites on the dish are then covered by incubating with a non-specific protein, such as, bovine serum albumen. Next, the monoclonal antibody is incubated in the dish during which time the monoclonal antibodies attach to any VEGF2 proteins attached to the polystyrene dish. All unbound monoclonal antibody is washed out with buffer. The reporter antibody linked to horseradish peroxidase is placed in the dish resulting in binding of the reporter antibody to any monoclonal antibody bound to VEGF2. Unattached reporter antibody is then washed out. Peroxidase substrates are then added to the dish and the amount of color developed in a given time period is a measurement of the amount of VEGF2 protein present in a given volume of patient sample when compared against a standard curve.

A competition assay may be employed wherein antibodies specific to VEGF2 are attached to a solid support. Polypeptides of the present invention are then labeled, for example, by radioactivity, and a sample derived from the host are passed over the solid support and the amount of label detected, for example by liquid scintillation chromatography, can be correlated to a quantity of VEGF2 in the sample.

A “sandwich” assay is similar to an ELISA assay. In a “sandwich” assay VEGF2 is passed over a solid support and binds to antibody attached to a solid support. A second antibody is then bound to the VEGF2. A third antibody which is labeled and specific to the second antibody is then passed over the solid support and binds to the second antibody and an amount can then be quantified.

The sequences of the present invention are also valuable for chromosome identification. The sequence is specifically targeted to and can hybridize with a particular location on an individual human chromosome. Moreover, there is a current need for identifying particular sites on the chromosome. Few chromosome marking reagents based on actual sequence data (repeat polymorphism's) are presently available for marking chromosomal location. The mapping of DNAs to chromosomes according to the present invention is an important first step in correlating those sequences with genes associated with disease.

Briefly, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers (preferably 15-25 bp) from the cDNA. Computer analysis of the cDNA is used to rapidly select primers that do not span more than one exon in the genomic DNA, thus complicating the amplification process. These primers are then used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Only those hybrids containing the human gene corresponding to the primer will yield an amplified fragment.

PCR mapping of somatic cell hybrids is a rapid procedure for assigning a particular DNA to a particular chromosome. Using the present invention with the same oligonucleotide primers, sublocalization can be achieved with panels of fragments from specific chromosomes or pools of large genomic clones in an analogous manner. Other mapping strategies that can similarly be used to map to its chromosome include in situ hybridization, prescreening with labeled flow-sorted chromosomes and preselection by hybridization to construct chromosome specific-cDNA libraries.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a cDNA clone to a metaphase chromosomal spread can be used to provide a precise chromosomal location in one step. This technique can be used with probes from the cDNA as short as 50 or 60 base pairs. For a review of this technique, see Verma et al., Human Chromosomes: a Manual of Basic Techniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, the physical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlated with genetic map data. Such data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, Mendelian Inheritance in Man (available on line through Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library). The relationship between genes and diseases that have been mapped to the same chromosomal region are then identified through linkage analysis (coinheritance of physically adjacent genes).

Next, it is necessary to determine the differences in the cDNA or genomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but not in any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the disease.

With current resolution of physical mapping and genetic mapping techniques, a cDNA precisely localized to a chromosomal region associated with the disease could be one of between 50 and 500 potential causative genes. (This assumes 1 megabase mapping resolution and one gene per 20 kb).

Comparison of affected and unaffected individuals generally involves first looking for structural alterations in the chromosomes, such as deletions or translocations that are visible from chromosome spreads or detectable using PCR based on that cDNA sequence. Ultimately, complete sequencing of genes from several individuals is required to confirm the presence of a mutation and to distinguish mutations from polymorphisms.

The present invention is further directed to inhibiting VEGF2 in vivo by the use of antisense technology. Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression through triple-helix formation or antisense DNA or RNA, both of which methods are based on binding of a polynucleotide to DNA or RNA. For example, the 5′ coding portion of the mature polynucleotide sequence, which encodes for the polypeptide of the present invention, is used to design an antisense RNA oligonucleotide of from 10 to 40 base pairs in length. A DNA oligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the gene involved in transcription (triple helix—see Lee et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 6: 3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241: 456 (1988); and Dervan et al. Science, 251: 1360 (1991), thereby preventing transcription and the production of VEGF2. The antisense RNA oligonucleotide hybridizes to the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation of an mRNA molecule into the VEGF2 (antisense—Okano, J. Neurochem. 56: 560 (1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988)).

Alternatively, the oligonucleotides described above can be delivered to cells by procedures in the art such that the anti-sense RNA or DNA may be expressed in vivo to inhibit production of VEGF2 in the manner described above.

Antisense constructs to VEGF2, therefore, may inhibit the angiogenic activity of the VEGF2 and prevent the further growth or even regress solid tumors, since angiogenesis and neovascularization are essential steps in solid tumor growth. These antisense constructs may also be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and diabetic retinopathy which are all characterized by abnormal angiogenesis.

The polypeptides, their fragments or other derivatives, or analogs thereof, or cells expressing them can be used as an immunogen to produce antibodies thereto. These antibodies can be, for example, polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. The present invention also includes chimeric, single chain, and humanized antibodies, as well as Fab fragments, or the product of an Fab expression library. Various procedures known in the art may be used for the production of such antibodies and fragments.

Antibodies generated against the polypeptide corresponding to a sequence of the present invention can be obtained by direct injection of the polypeptide into an animal or by administering the polypeptide to an animal, preferably a nonhuman. The antibody so obtained will then bind the polypeptide itself. In this manner, even a sequence encoding only a fragment of the polypeptide can be used to generate antibodies binding the whole native polypeptide. Such antibodies can then be used to isolate the polypeptide from tissue expressing that polypeptide.

For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique which provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures can be used. Examples include the hybridoma technique (Kohler and Milstein, Nature 256: 495-497 (1975)), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al., Immunology Today 4: 72 (1983)), and the EBV-hybridoma technique to produce human monoclonal antibodies (Cole et al., in Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, Inc. (1985), pp. 77-96).

Techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to immunogenic polypeptide products of this invention.

Neutralization antibodies can be identified and applied to mask the vascular endothelial growth factor, and that has been shown in mice model systems against VEGF. VEGF2 can also be inactivated by certain dominant negative mutants within the gene itself. It is known that both PDGFα and β form either heterodimers or homodimers, and VEGF forms homodimers. Similar interaction between VEGF2 could be expected. These antibodies therefore may be used to block the angiogenic activity of VEGF2 and retard the growth of solid tumors. These antibodies may also be used to treat inflammation caused by the increased vascular permeability which results from the presence of VEGF2.

These antibodies may further be used in an immunoassay to detect the presence of tumors in certain individuals. Enzyme immunoassay can be performed from the blood sample of an individual. Elevated levels of VEGF2 can be considered diagnostic of cancer.

The present invention is also directed to antagonist/inhibitors of the polypeptides of the present invention. The antagonist/inhibitors are those which inhibit or eliminate the function of the polypeptide.

Thus, for example, antagonists bind to a polypeptide of the present invention and inhibit or eliminate its function. The antagonist, for example, could be an antibody against the polypeptide which binds to the polypeptide or, in some cases, an oligonucleotide. An example of an inhibitor is a small molecule which binds to and occupies the catalytic site of the polypeptide thereby making the catalytic site inaccessible to substrate such that normal biological activity is prevented. Examples of small molecules include but are not limited to small peptides or peptide-like molecules.

Truncated versions of VEGF2 can also be produced that are capable of interacting with wild type VEGF2 to form dimers that fail to activate endothelial cell growth, therefore inactivating the endogenous VEGF2. Or, mutant forms of VEGF2 form dimers themselves and occupy the ligand binding domain of the proper tyrosine kinase receptors on the target cell surface, but fail to activate cell growth.

Alternatively, antagonists to the polypeptides of the present invention may be employed which bind to the receptors to which a polypeptide of the present invention normally binds. The antagonists may be closely related proteins such that they recognize and bind to the receptor sites of the natural protein, however, they are inactive forms of the natural protein and thereby prevent the action of VEGF2 since receptor sites are occupied. In these ways, the action of the VEGF2 is prevented and the antagonist/inhibitors may be used therapeutically as an anti-tumor drug by occupying the receptor sites of tumors which are recognized by VEGF2 or by inactivating VEGF2 itself. The antagonist/inhibitors may also be used to prevent inflammation due to the increased vascular permeability action of VEGF2. The antagonist/inhibitors may also be used to treat solid tumor growth, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The antagonist/inhibitors may be employed in a composition with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, e.g., as hereinabove described.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following examples; however, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such examples. All parts or amounts, unless otherwise specified, are by weight.

In order to facilitate understanding of the following examples, certain frequently occurring methods and/or terms will be described.

“Plasmids” are designated by a lower case p preceded and/or followed by capital letters and/or numbers. The starting plasmids herein are either commercially available, publicly available on an unrestricted basis, or can be constructed from available plasmids in accord with published procedures. In addition, equivalent plasmids to those described are known in the art and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

“Digestion” of DNA refers to catalytic cleavage of the DNA with a restriction enzyme that acts only at certain sequences in the DNA. The various restriction enzymes used herein are commercially available and their reaction conditions, cofactors and other requirements were used as would be known to the ordinarily skilled artisan. For analytical purposes, typically 1 μg of plasmid or DNA fragment is used with about 2 units of enzyme in about 20 μl of buffer solution. For the purpose of isolating DNA fragments for plasmid construction, typically 5 to 50 μg of DNA are digested with 20 to 250 units of enzyme in a larger volume. Appropriate buffers and substrate amounts for particular restriction enzymes are specified by the manufacturer. Incubation times of about 1 hour at 37° C. are ordinarily used, but may vary in accordance with the supplier's instructions. After digestion the reaction is electrophoresed directly on a poly-acrylamide gel to isolate the desired fragment.

Size separation of the cleaved fragments is performed using 8 percent polyacrylamide gel described by Goeddel, D. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 8: 4057 (1980).

“Oligonucleotides” refer to either a single stranded polydeoxynucleotide or two complementary polydeoxynucleotide strands, which may be chemically synthesized. Such synthetic oligonucleotides have no 5′ phosphate and thus will not ligate to another oligonucleotide without adding a phosphate with an ATP in the presence of a kinase. A synthetic oligonucleotide will ligate to a fragment that has not been dephosphorylated.

“Ligation” refers to the process of forming phosphodiester bonds between two double stranded nucleic acid fragments (Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), p. 146). Unless otherwise provided, ligation may be accomplished using known buffers and conditions with 10 units of T4 DNA ligase (“ligase”) per 0.5 μg of approximately equimolar amounts of the DNA fragments to be ligated.

Unless otherwise stated, transformation was performed as described by the method of Graham, F. and Van der Eb, A., Virology 52: 456-457 (1973).

EXAMPLE 1 Expression Pattern of VEGF2 in Human Tissues and Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Northern blot analysis was carried out to examine the levels of expression of VEGF2 in human tissues and breast cancer cell lines in human tissues. Total cellular RNA samples were isolated with RNAZOL™ B system (Biotecx Laboratories, Inc.). About 10 μg of total RNA isolated from each breast tissue and cell line specified was separated on 1% agarose gel and blotted onto a nylon filter, (Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989)). The labeling reaction was done according to the STRATAGENE™ Prime-It kit with 50 ng DNA fragment. The labeled DNA was purified with a Select-G-50 column from 5 Prime.fwdarw.3 Prime, Inc (Boulder, Colo.). The filter was then hybridized with a radioactive labeled full length VEGF2 gene at 1,000,000 cpm/ml in 0.5 M NaPO₄ and 7% SDS overnight at 65° C. After washing twice at room temperature and twice at 60° C. with 0.5×SSC, 0.1% SDS, the filters were then exposed at −70° C. overnight with an intensifying screen. A message of 1.6 Kb was observed in 2 breast cancer cell lines. FIG. 5, lane#4 represents a very tumorigenic cell line that is estrogen independent for growth.

Also, 10 μg of total RNA from 10 human adult tissues were separated on an agarose gel and blotted onto a nylon filter. The filter was then hybridized with radioactively labeled VEGF2 probe in 7% SDS, 0.5 M NaPO4, pH 7.2; 1% BSA overnight at 65° C. Following washing in 0.2×SSC at 65° C., the filter was exposed to film for 24 days at −70° C. with intensifying screen. See FIG. 6.

EXAMPLE 2 Expression of the Truncated Form of VEGF2 (SEQ ID NO:4) by In Vitro Transcription and Translation

The VEGF2 cDNA was transcribed and translated in vitro to determine the size of the translatable polypeptide encoded by the truncated form of VEGF2 and a partial VEGF2 cDNA. The two inserts of VEGF2 in the pBLUESCRIPT™ SK vector were amplified by PCR with three pairs of primers, 1) M13-reverse and forward primers; 2) M13-reverse primer and VEGF primer F4; and 3) M13-reverse primer and VEGF primer F5. The sequence of these primers are as follows. M13-2 reverse primer: 5′-ATGCTTCCGGCTCGTATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9)

This sequence is located upstream of the 5′ end of the VEGF2 cDNA insert in the pBLUESCRIPT™ vector and is in an anti-sense orientation as the cDNA. A T3 promoter sequence is located between this primer and the VEGF2 cDNA. M13-2 forward primer: 5′GGGTTTTCCCAGTCACGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:10)

This sequence is located downstream of the 3′ end of the VEGF2 cDNA insert in the pBLUESCRIPT™ vector and is in an anti-sense orientation as the cDNA insert. VEGF primer F4: 5′-CCACATGGTTCAGGAAAGACA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:11)

This sequence is located within the VEGF2 cDNA in an anti-sense orientation from bp 1259-1239, which is about 169 bp away from the 3′ end of the stop codon and about 266 bp before the last nucleotide of the cDNA.

PCR reaction with all three pairs of primers produce amplified products with T3 promoter sequence in front of the cDNA insert. The first and third pairs of primers produce PCR products that encode the polypeptide of VEGF2 shown in SEQ ID NO:4. The second pair of primers produce PCR product that misses 36 amino acids coding sequence at the C-terminus of the VEGF2 polypeptide.

Approximately 0.5 μg of PCR product from first pair of primers, 1 μg from second pair of primers, 1 μg from third pair of primers were used for in vitro transcription/translation. The in vitro transcription/translation reaction was performed in a 25 μl of volume, using the T_(N)T™. Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate Systems (PROMEGA™, CAT# L4950). Specifically, the reaction contains 12.5 μl of T_(N)T rabbit reticulocyte lysate 2 μl of T_(N)T reaction buffer, 1 μl of T3 polymerase, 1 μl of 1 mM amino acid mixtrue (minus methionine), 4 μl of ³⁵S-methionine (>1000 Ci/mmol, 10 mCi/ml), 1 μl of 40 U/μl; RNasin ribonuclease inhibitor, 0.5 or 1 μg of PCR products. Nuclease-free H₂O was added to bring the volume to 25 μl. The reaction was incubated at 30° C. for 2 hours. Five microliters of the reaction product was analyzed on a 4-20% gradient SDS-PAGE gel. After fixing in 25% isopropanol and 10% acetic acid, the gel was dried and exposed to an X-ray film overnight at 70° C.

As shown in FIG. 7, PCR products containing the truncated VEGF2 cDNA (i.e., as depicted in SEQ ID NO:3) and the cDNA missing 266 bp in the 3′ un-translated region (3′-UTR) produced the same length of translated products, whose molecular weights are estimated to be 38-40 kd (lanes 1 and 3). The cDNA missing all the 3′UTR and missing sequence encoding the C-terminal 36 amino acids was translated into a polypeptide with an estimated molecular weight of 36-38 kd (lane 2).

EXAMPLE 3 Cloning and Expression of VEGF2 Using the Baculovirus Expression System

The DNA sequence encoding the VEGF2 protein without 46 amino acids at the N-terminus, see ATCC™ No. 97149, was amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5′ and 3′ sequences of the gene:

The 5′ primer has the sequence TGT AAT ACG ACT CAC TAT AGG GAT CCC GCC ATG GAG GCC ACG GCT TAT GC (SEQ ID NO:12) and contains a BamH1 restriction enzyme site (in bold) and 17 nucleotide nucleotide sequence complementary to the 5′ sequence of VEGF2 (nt. 150-166).

The 3′ primer has the sequence GATC TCT AGA TTA GCT CAT TTG TGG TCT (SEQ ID NO:13) and contains the cleavage site for the restriction enzyme XbaI and 18 nucleotides complementary to the 3′ sequence of VEGF2, including the stop codon and 15 nt sequence before stop codon.

The amplified sequences were isolated from a 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit (“GENECLEAN™” BIO 101, Inc., La Jolla, Calif.). The fragment was then digested with the endonuclease BamH1 and XbaI and then purified again on a 1% agarose gel. This fragment was ligated to pAcGP67A baculovirus transfer vector (Pharmingen) at the BamH1 and XbaI sites. Through this ligation, VEGF2 cDNA was cloned in frame with the signal sequence of baculovirus gp67 gene and was located at the 3′ end of the signal sequence in the vector. This is designated pAcGP67A-VEGF2.

To clone VEGF2 with the signal sequence of gp67 gene to the pRG1 vector for expression, VEGF2 with the signal sequence and some upstream sequence were excised from the pAcGP67A-VEGF2 plasmid at the Xho restriction endonuclease site located upstream of the VEGF2 cDNA and at the XbaI restriction endonuclease site by XhoI and XbaI restriction enzyme. This fragment was separated from the rest of vector on a 1% agarose gel and was purified using “GENECLEAN™” kit. It was designated F2.

The PRG1 vector (modification of pVL941 vector) is used for the expression of the VEGF2 protein using the baculovirus expression system (for review see: Summers, M. D. and Smith, G. E., “A Manual of Methods for Baculovirus Vectors and Insect Cell Culture Procedures,” Texas Agricultural Experimental Station Bulletin No. 1555, (1987)). This expression vector contains the strong polyhedrin promoter of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) followed by the recognition sites for the restriction endonucleases BamH1, Sma1, XbaI, BglII and Asp718. A site for restriction endonuclease Xho1 is located upstream of BamH1 site. The sequence between Xho1 and BamHI is the same as that in PAcGp67A (static on tape) vector. The polyadenylation site of the simian virus (SV)40 is used for efficient polyadenylation. For an easy selection of recombinant virus the beta-galactosidase gene from E. coli is inserted in the same orientation as the polyhedrin promoter followed by the polyadenylation signal of the polyhedrin gene. The polyhedrin sequences are flanked at both sides by viral sequences for the cell-mediated homologous recombination of cotransfected wild-type viral DNA. Many other baculovirus vectors could be used in place of pRG1 such as pAc373, pVL941 and pAcIM1 (Luckow, V. A. and Summers, M. D., Virology 170: 31-39 (1989).

The plasmid was digested with the restriction enzymes XboI and XbaI and then dephosphorylated using calf intestinal phosphatase by procedures known in the art. The DNA was then isolated from a 1% agarose gel using the commercially available kit (“GENECLEAN™” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, Calif.). This vector DNA is designated V2.

Fragment F2 and the dephosphorylated plasmid V2 were ligated with T4 DNA ligase. E. coli HB101 cells were then transformed and bacteria identified that contained the plasmid (pBac gp67-VEGF2) with the VEGF2 gene using the enzymes BamH1 and XbaI. The sequence of the cloned fragment was confirmed by DNA sequencing.

5 μg of the plasmid pBac gp67-VEGF2 was cotransfected with 1.0 μg of a commercially available linearized baculovirus (“BACULOGOLD™ baculovirus DNA”, Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.) using the LIPOFECTIN™ method (Felgner et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84: 7413-7417 (1987)).

1 μg of BACULOGOLD™ virus DNA and 5 μg of the plasmid pBac gp67-VEGF2 were mixed in a sterile well of a microtiter plate containing 50 μl of serum free Grace's medium (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.). Afterwards 10 μl LIPOFECTIN™ plus 90 μl Grace's medium were added, mixed and incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature. Then the transfection mixture was added dropwise to the Sf9 insect cells (ATCC™ CRL 1711) seeded in a 35 mm tissue culture plate with 1 ml Grace's medium without serum. The plate was rocked back and forth to mix the newly added solution. The plate was then incubated for 5 hours at 27° C. After 5 hours the transfection solution was removed from the plate and 1 ml of Grace's insect medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum was added. The plate was put back into an incubator and cultivation continued at 27° C. for four days.

After four days the supernatant was collected and a plaque assay performed similar as described by Summers and Smith, supra. As a modification an agarose gel with “Blue Gal” (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg) was used which allows an easy isolation of blue stained plaques. (A detailed description of a “plaque assay” can also be found in the user's guide for insect cell culture and baculovirology distributed by Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, page 9-10).

Four days after the serial dilution, the virus was added to the cells, blue stained plaques were picked with the tip of an Eppendorf pipette. The agar containing the recombinant viruses was then resuspended in an Eppendorf tube containing 200 μl of Grace's medium. The agar was removed by a brief centrifugation and the supernatant containing the recombinant baculovirus was used to infect Sf9 cells seeded in 35 mm dishes. Four days later the supernatants of these culture dishes were harvested and then stored at 4° C.

Sf9 cells were grown in Grace's medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FBS. The cells were infected with the recombinant baculovirus V-gp67-VEGF2 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1. Six hours later the medium was removed and replaced with SF900 II medium minus methionine and cysteine (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg). 42 hours later 5 μCi of ³⁵S-methionine and 5 μCi. ³⁵S cysteine (Amersham) were added. The cells were further incubated for 16 hours before they were harvested by centrifugation and the labeled proteins visualized by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography.

Protein from the medium and cytoplasm of the Sf9 cells was analyzed by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing and reducing conditions. See FIGS. 8A and 8B, respectively. The medium was dialyzed against 50 mM MES, pH 5.8. Precipitates were obtained after dialysis and resuspended in 100 mM NaCltrate, pH 5.0. The resuspended precipitate was analyzed again by SDS-PAGE and was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. See FIG. 9.

The medium supernatant was also diluted 1:10 in 50 mM MES, pH 5.8 and applied to an SP-650M column (1.0×6.6 cm, Toyopearl) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. Protein was eluted with step gradients at 200, 300 and 500 mM NaCl. The VEGF2 was obtained using the elution at 500 mM. The eluate was analyzed by SDS-PAGE in the presence or absence of reducing agent, β-mercaptoethanol and stained by Coommassie Brilliant Blue. See FIG. 10.

EXAMPLE 4 Expression of Recombinant VEGF2 in COS Cells

The expression of plasmid, VEGF2-HA is derived from a vector pcDNAI/Amp (Invitrogen) containing: 1) SV40 origin of replication, 2) ampicillin resistance gene, 3) E. coli replication origin, 4) CMV promoter followed by a polylinker region, an SV40 intron and polyadenylation site. A DNA fragment encoding the entire VEGF2 precursor and a HA tag fused in frame to its 3′ end was cloned into the polylinker region of the vector, therefore, the recombinant protein expression is directed under the CMV promoter. The HA tag corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein as previously described (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984)). The infusion of HA tag to the target protein allows easy detection of the recombinant protein with an antibody that recognizes the HA epitope.

The plasmid construction strategy is described as follows:

The DNA sequence encoding VEGF2, ATCC™ No. 97149, was constructed by PCR using two primers: the 5′ primer (CGC GGA TCC ATG ACT GTA CTC TAC CCA) (SEQ ID NO:14) contains a BamH1 site followed by 18 nucleotides of VEGF2 coding sequence starting from the initiation codon; the 3′ sequence (CGC TCT AGA TCA AGC GTA GTC TGG GAC GTC GTA TGG GTA CTC GAG GCT CAT TTG TGG TCT 3′) (SEQ ID NO:15) contains complementary sequences to an XbaI site, HA tag, XhoI site, and the last 15 nucleotides of the VEGF2 coding sequence (not including the stop codon). Therefore, the PCR product contains a BamHI site, coding sequence followed by an XhoI restriction endonuclease site and HA tag fused in frame, a translation termination stop codon next to the HA tag, and an XbaI site. The PCR amplified DNA fragment and the vector, pcDNAI/Amp, were digested with BamH1 and XbaI restriction enzyme and ligated. The ligation mixture was transformed into E. coli strain SURE (STRATAGENE™ Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif. 92037) the transformed culture was plated on ampicillin media plates and resistant colonies were selected. Plasmid DNA was isolated from transformants and examined by restriction analysis for the presence of the correct fragment. For expression of the recombinant VEGF2, COS cells were transfected with the expression vector by DEAE-DEXTRAN method (J. Sambrook, E. Fritsch, T. Maniatis, Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Laboratory Press, (1989)). The expression of the VEGF2-HA protein was detected by radiolabelling and immunoprecipitation method (E. Harlow and D. Lane, Antibodies. A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, (1988)). Cells were labeled for 8 hours with ³⁵S-cysteine two days post transfection. Culture media was then collected and cells were lysed with detergent (RIPA buffer (150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 0.1% SDS, 1% NP-40, 0.5% DOC, 5 mM Tris, pH 7.5) (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984)). Both cell lysate and culture media were precipitated with an HA specific monoclonal antibody. Proteins precipitated were analyzed on 15% SDS-PAGE gels.

EXAMPLE 5 The Effect of Partially Purified VEGF2 Protein on the Growth of Vascular Endothelial Cells

On day 1, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were seeded at 2-5×10⁴ cells/35 mm dish density in M199 medium containing 4% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 16 units/ml heparin, and 50 units/ml endothelial cell growth supplements (ECGS, Biotechnique, Inc.). On day 2, the medium was replaced with M199 containing 10% FBS, 8 units/ml heparin. VEGF2 protein of SEQ ID NO. 2 minus the initial 45 amino acid residues, (VEGF) and basic FGF (bFGF) were added, at the concentration shown. On days 4 and 6, the medium was replaced. On day 8, cell number was determined with a Coulter Counter (See FIG. 12).

EXAMPLE 6 The Effect of Purified VEGF2 Protein on the Growth of Vascular Endothelial Cells

On day 1, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were seeded at 2-5×10⁴ cells/35 mm dish density in M199 medium containing 4% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 16 units/ml heparin, 50 units/ml endothelial cell growth supplements (ECGS, Biotechnique, Inc.). On day 2, the medium was replaced with M199 containing 10% FBS, 8 units/ml heparin. Purified VEGF2 protein of SEQ ID NO:2 minus initial 45 amino acid residues was added to the medium at this point. On days 4 and 6, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and supplements. On day 8, cell number was determined with a Coulter Counter (See FIG. 13).

EXAMPLE 7 Expression via Gene Therapy

Fibroblasts are obtained from a subject by skin biopsy. The resulting tissue is placed in tissue-culture medium and separated into small pieces. Small chunks of the tissue are placed on a wet surface of a tissue culture flask, approximately ten pieces are placed in each flask. The flask is turned upside down, closed tight and left at room temperature over night. After 24 hours at room temperature, the flask is inverted and the chunks of tissue remain fixed to the bottom of the flask and fresh media (e.g., Ham's F12 media, with 10% FBS, penicillin and streptomycin, is added. This is then incubated at 37° C. for approximately one week. At this time, fresh media is added and subsequently changed every several days. After an additional two weeks in culture, a monolayer of fibroblasts emerge. The monolayer is trypsinized and scaled into larger flasks.

pMV-7 (Kirschmeier, P. T. et al., DNA 7: 219-225 (1988) flanked by the long terminal repeats of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus, is digested with EcoRI and HindIII and subsequently treated with calf intestinal phosphatase. The linear vector is fractionated on agarose gel and purified, using glass beads.

The cDNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention is amplified using PCR primers which correspond to the 5′ and 3′ end sequences respectively. The 5′ primer containing an EcoRI site and the 3′ primer further includes a HindIII site. Equal quantities of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus linear backbone and the amplified EcoRI and HindIII fragment are added together, in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. The resulting mixture is maintained under conditions appropriate for ligation of the two fragments. The ligation mixture is used to transform bacteria HB101, which are then plated onto agar-containing kanamycin for the purpose of confirming that the vector had the gene of interest properly inserted.

The amphotropic pA317 or GP+am12 packaging cells are grown in tissue culture to confluent density in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium (DMEM) with 10% calf serum (CS), penicillin and streptomycin. The MSV vector containing the gene is then added to the media and the packaging cells are transduced with the vector. The packaging cells now produce infectious viral particles containing the gene (the packaging cells are now referred to as producer cells).

Fresh media is added to the transduced producer cells, and subsequently, the media is harvested from a 10 cm plate of confluent producer cells. The spent media, containing the infectious viral particles, is filtered through a millipore filter to remove detached producer cells and this media is then used to infect fibroblast cells. Media is removed from a sub-confluent plate of fibroblasts and quickly replaced with the media from the producer cells. This media is removed and replaced with fresh media. If the titer of virus is high, then virtually all fibroblasts will be infected and no selection is required. If the titer is very low, then it is necessary to use a retroviral vector that has a selectable marker, such as neo or his.

The engineered fibroblasts are then injected into the host, either alone or after having been grown to confluence on cytodex 3 microcarrier beads. The fibroblasts now produce the protein product.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as particularly described. 

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: (A) a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −23 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −22 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 1 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −24 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −23 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (f) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 1 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (g) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit Nos. 97149 or 75698; (h) a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97149 or 75698; (i) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h); and (j) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence identical to a nucleotide sequence in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), or (i), wherein said polynucleotide which hybridizes does not hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence consisting of only A residues or of only T residues; and (B) a polynucleotide sequence encoding a VEGF2 polypeptide wherein, except for at least one conservative amino acid substitution, said polypeptide has a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (k) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −23 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (l) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −22 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (m) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 1 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (n) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −24 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (o) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −23 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (p) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 1 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (q) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit Nos. 97149 or 75698; (r) a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97149 or 75698; and (s) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h).
 2. A method for making a recombinant vector comprising inserting an isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 into a vector.
 3. A recombinant vector produced by the method of claim
 2. 4. A method of making a recombinant host cell comprising introducing the recombinant vector of claim 3 into a host cell.
 5. A recombinant host cell produced by the method of claim
 4. 6. A recombinant method for producing a VEGF2 polypeptide, comprising culturing the recombinant host cell of claim 5 under conditions such that said polypeptide is expressed and recovering said polypeptide.
 7. An isolated VEGF2 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (A) an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) amino acids from about −23 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (b) amino acids from about −22 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (c) amino acids from about 1 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (d) amino acids from about −24 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (e) amino acids from about −23 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (f) amino acids from about 1 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (g) the amino acid sequence of the VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clones contained in ATCC™ Deposit Nos. 97149 or 75698; (h) the amino acid sequence of the mature VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit Nos. 97149 or 75698; and (B) an isolated VEGF2 polypeptide wherein, except for at least one conservative amino acid substitution, said polypeptide has a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) amino acids from about −23 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (j) amino acids from about −22 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (k) amino acids from about 1 to about 396 in SEQ ID NO:2; (l) amino acids from about −24 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (m) amino acids from about −23 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (n) amino acids from about 1 to about 326 in SEQ ID NO:4; (o) the amino acid sequence of the VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clones contained in ATCC™ Deposit Nos. 97149 or 75698; and (p) the amino acid sequence of the mature VEGF2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit Nos. 97149 or
 75698. 8. An antibody against the polypeptide of claim
 7. 9. A method of making an antibody comprising introducing a polypeptide comprising at least 50 contiguous amino acids of the polypeptide of claim 7 into an animal and recovering said antibody.
 10. A method of making an antibody comprising screening a single chain or Fab expression library to identify an antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide comprising at least 50 amino acids of the polypeptide of claim 7 and recovering said antibody from said library.
 11. A compound effective as an agonist for the polypeptide of claim
 7. 12. A compound effective as an antagonist against the polypeptide of claim
 7. 13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of claim 7 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 14. A method for the treatment of a patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of claim
 7. 15. A method for the treatment of a patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the agonist of claim
 11. 16. A method for the treatment of a patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antagonist of claim
 12. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein said therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide is administered by providing to the patient DNA encoding said polypeptide and expressing said polypeptide in vivo.
 18. A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease related to expression of the polypeptide of claim 7 comprising: determining a mutation in the nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide.
 19. A diagnostic process comprising: analyzing for the presence of the polypeptide of claim 7 in a sample derived from a host.
 20. A method for identifying compounds which bind to and activate or inhibit a receptor for the polypeptide of claim 7 comprising: contacting a cell expressing on the surface thereof a receptor for the polypeptide, said receptor being associated with a second component capable of providing a detectable signal in response to the binding of a compound to said receptor, with a compound to be screened under conditions to permit binding to the receptor; and determining whether the compound binds to and activates or inhibits the receptor by detecting the presence or absence of a signal generated from the interaction of the compound with the receptor. 